The Journey

The Astonishing Power of Emotions

Shoot!  It occurs to me that I added this book to my reading list but haven't mentioned a thing about it to you!  Silly me.

I got turned on to this book by, the now nearly famous, Lynne Morrell, client, coach, friend, and generally amazing woman.  Anyway, she asked if I had read it and I immediately went to my favorite bookstore and purchased it.

I took it with me on my vacation and read about half of it.  I might have been tempted to read the whole thing but there was so much really good stuff that I wanted to let each day's reading to settle a little before I went on to read more.

I'm at a loss to tell you what it's about in one or two paragraphs so I'll just say that it has provided me with a way to listen to what is happening inside and decide if I'm working with or against my true inner self and then ways to help me move to more "downstream" thoughts that help me not have to "row upstream" against my current of discovery and fulfillment.

I think it might be a book that has to be experienced  rather than talked about.  Amazon has sample pages to look at.  I've recommended other Esther and Jerry Hicks books and this one may be the best, though I say that about each one I read so I'm not sure if it's actually the best or just exactly what my spirit needs at that moment.

Whatever it is, I'm sure you'll love it.

Anything Can Happen

I watched a television show the other night on which they based an entire promotion on what one customer had said--"Anything can happen."  Isn't that just the truth?

So, here I am, watching this show and the only things I'm actually thinking about are the things that have happened to me when I've been in that "Anything Can Happen" mode.  Of course that led to thinking about when those moments were and how I could replicate them because some really cool things happened.

I'm not sure but I think it was when I just let go and listened to my heart rather than my brain.  It's kind of like the 12 Step thing that says, "Let Go and Let God."  I'd probably rewrite it to say "Let the Universe Take the Wheel" or something but I think it's the same basic concept.

What I haven't figured out is how to consistently live in that space so it flows like I know it can.  Maybe that's the whole journey--trying to figure it out.  OK, part of the journey

Nice, meaty mind food for a dreary rainy day, isn't it?

Birthdays and Wish Lists

You will know from my earlier post that it's my birthday--yes, thank you, absolutely lovely.

Well, I got a gift from my daughter that I simply have to tell you about.  She told me a package was coming and that it was a birthday gift and I should wait to open it on by birthday if I wanted it to be a true birthday present.  I know, I know, I have no little kid left in me at all because I waiting to open it until today.  (OK, not true about the little kid--I just love the whole anticipation thing.)

If you take a look back a few days you'll see an update on my Wish List post in which one of the things I wanted was cool stuff for my photography.  My daughter got me a very cool, very high-quality tripod!  It's amazing! She's amazing! 

OK, I think I'm going to go play with my new toy.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!!!!

Don't you love birthdays?  I do.  I get to have other people tell me how cool I am--a bunch of them--all on one day--or even over 2 or 3 days if I play my cards right.  Oh, and speaking of cards, I got those, too.  What fun!

    So, happy birthday to me!!!  I love how I can feel like I'm in my mid-20's when I turn 57 at 9:45 tonight--oops, that's 7:45 Pacific time.  I talk to a lot of people who are all upset that they're getting "old."  I'm not thrilled with the physical aspects of it but I'm getting a total kick out of the benefits of it.  People actually treat me nicer than they did when I was 30--they hold doors for me and sometimes even offer to carry things for me.  I like that.

    I get senior discounts at a few places already.  I get it at the bread store and I got it at a buffet I went to a couple of weeks ago.  The older I get, the more places will honor me with discounts.

    I get to become more comfortable in my own skin.  I can actually remember a time when I sat in my living room with the phone on my leg, calling everyone I knew because I was desperately lonely.  No one was home except a woman I had called a friend and I discovered that the only reason I was there was to be the person she could talk to when she needed to talk.  She couldn't handle it when I needed her.  How sad it was back then.  Now I can't even imagine feeling either lonely or bored.  There's just too much to do and too many friends I just haven't met yet. 

    At 17, 27, or 37 it never would have occurred to me to start up casual conversations with people I'd never met before.  I do that all the time, now.  I talk to people at the hairdresser, in the grocery store, going for a walk, everywhere.  It's fun!  I sometimes learn so fun stuff, sometimes I think maybe we both feel a little better because we talked to one another.

    Yes, I like being 57.  Have a scoop of ice cream in celebration of my birthday (I like ice cream better than cake).

    One more time!  Happy Birthday to ME!!!!!!!

Wish List Update

    Here I am, asking people to make a wish list and I'm still thinking what a good idea it would be--sheesh, no wonder I never had one before--I keep thinking what a good idea it is rather than write one.  So, here's the very beginning of my wish list:

• World peace (yes, I know, every aspiring Miss America in the history of the pageant would be proud of me but there's a reason they all say that's what they want--because it's what they want--so do I)
• Perfect health--that one's pretty self-explanatory
• A place to call my own.  Yes, I have an apartment that's all mine (and my cat's) but I don't feel like it's truly mine.  I've lived in places I rented that felt like they were mine--this one doesn't feel that way, though I really do like it more and more.  Actually, while I'm wishing, I want a condo.  I actually want a loft--not the things they call lofts with 4 or 5 rooms in them--that's not a loft, that's an apartment with tall ceilings.  I want one big, huge open space with gigantic windows, brick walls--at least one brick wall anyway, exposed ceiling beams and ductwork, and a funky hardwood floor that still shows where the old giant machines were bolted to the floor.  It would be lovely if it were within a few blocks of Pike Place Market, too.
• Independence from working to earn money.  I'd like to be able to do whatever I want whether it pays me or not.
• More time with my family
• A Prius
• A cruise to Alaska on a small ship (a photography tour might be nice)
• A totally cool camera
• Gear to go with the camera (tripod, lenses, and such)
• Being in the flow on a regular basis
• Lots of good books to read (OK, I have that now but I still want it on my wish list.  I really love books.
• A month every year in a cabin in the woods where I can be alone and quiet.
• Dinner at a totally cool restaurant once a month

The Law of the Garbage Truck

Someone sent me one of those things that floats around the email circuit forever.  This one was one of the good ones (it didn't even tell me that I would grow warts with hair growing out of them if I didn't email this to 200 people in the next 10 minutes).  At any rate, here's the synopsis of the thing I received.

    A passenger in a taxi sees a car leap out from its parking place so close to the front of the cab that she was certain they were going to
    hit the offending car.  The cab driver was very alert and was able to slam on the breaks fast enough to avoid and accident by inches.  The driver of the offending vehicle opened his window and yelled and gestured obsenities at the taxi driver who simply smiled and waved and went about his business.  Of course the passenger was amazed at that and asked why he would do such a thing. 

    (Here's the really good part.)  Here's what the cab driver told her:
    Many people are like garbage trucks.
    They run around full of garbage, full of frustration,
    full of anger, and full of disappointment.
    As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it.
    And if you let them, they'll dump it on you.
    When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally.
    You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
    You'll be happy you did.

    I love it!  How Abraham it is to do this--the way I see it, it's totally downstream thinking.  Want more information, see The Astonishing Power of Emotions